Monty Turner due back in court on July 3

By Pierrette J. ShieldsLongmont Times-Call

Posted:
06/13/2013 04:13:39 PM MDT

Updated:
06/13/2013 04:15:15 PM MDT

BOULDER -- The Boulder District Attorney's Office on Thursday filed 16 charges -- including 12 felonies -- against a Divide man accused of assaulting his estranged wife, kidnapping their 3-year-old son and fleeing to Canada last month.

Monty Turner, 51, appeared briefly in Boulder County Court at the Boulder County Jail on Thursday afternoon for the filing. He remained hidden from public view for the duration and was scheduled for a July 3 preliminary hearing.

Prosecutors filed one count of felony second-degree kidnapping, three counts of first-degree burglary, three counts of second-degree burglary, one count of domestic violence-related violation of a protection order, three counts of domestic violence-related violation of custody, and domestic violence-related use of a stun gun. He also was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence-related third-degree assault, misdemeanor domestic violence-related violation of a protection order, and obstruction of a telephone.

Monty Turner

The Longmont police and FBI launched a nationwide search for Turner and his 3-year-old son, Luke, after he reportedly took the boy on May 25. Brandy Turner told police she found Monty Turner in the backyard of her Longmont home and that he forced his way in, shocked her with a stun gun and sprayed her with pepper spray and then fled with their son on a bicycle. She told police her estranged husband appeared to have a utility belt of tools that he used to disable her during the struggle and that he threw her phone on the ground when she tried to call 911 for help.

Monty Turner's father, Ronald Turner, is suspected of complicity in the kidnapping. He was arrested in Missouri, where he is awaiting extradition. He was found driving a vehicle police sought in the early stages of the investigation.

Monty Turner was arrested in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, 27 hours after he and Luke went missing. The boy was returned to his mother two days later.

Brandy Turner launched a search for Monty and Luke Turner last July when they did not return from a planned camping trip. At the time, there was no custody agreement between the parents and police did not consider it a kidnapping, but still aided with the search and tracked Monty and Luke Turner to a Washington County property in March. Officers searched the property and found the father and son hiding under carpeting in a box truck. Once the child was returned, Brandy Turner was awarded guardianship and a Boulder County judge issued a protection order that required Monty Turner to stay away from both Brandy and Luke Turner, according to court records.

Monty Turner is being held in lieu of a $500,000 bond at the Boulder County Jail.

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